On The Right Hand Of The Lord Mayor Sat The Duke Of Cambridge
In A COMMON CHAIR, For Royalty Yields Entirely To The Mayor, On His
Own Ground.
On the right of the Duke of Cambridge sat the Mayoress-
elect (for the present dignitaries go out of office on the 1st of
November).
On the left hand of the present Lady Mayoress sat the
Lord Mayor-ELECT, then I came with my husband on my left hand in
very conjugal style.
There were three tables the whole length of the hall, and that at
which we were placed went across at the head. When we are placed,
the herald stands behind the Lord Mayor and cries: "My Lords,
Ladies, and Gentlemen, pray silence, for grace." Then the chaplain
in his gown, goes behind the Lord Mayor and says grace. After the
second course two large gold cups, nearly two feet high, are placed
before the Mayor and Mayoress. The herald then cries with a loud
voice: "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the American
Minister, the Lord Chief Baron," etc., etc. (enumerating about a
dozen of the most distinguished guests), "and ladies and gentlemen
all, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress do bid you most heartily
welcome and invite you to drink in a loving cup." Whereupon the
Mayor and Mayoress rise and each turn to their next neighbor, who
take off the cover while they drink. After my right-hand neighbor,
the Lord Mayor-elect, had put on the cover, he turns to me and says,
"Please take off the cover," which I do and hold it while he drinks;
then I replace the cover and turn round to Mr. Bancroft, who rises
and performs the same office for me while I drink; then he turns to
his next neighbor, who takes off the cover for him. I have not felt
so solemn since I stood up to be married as when Mr. Bancroft and I
were standing up alone together, the rest of the company looking on,
I with this great heavy gold cup in my hand, so heavy that I could
scarcely lift it to my mouth with both hands, and he with the cover
before me, with rather a mischievous expression in his face. Then
came two immense gold platters filled with rose water, which were
also passed round. These gold vessels were only used by the persons
at the head table; the other guests were served with silver cups.
When the dessert and the wine are placed on the table, the herald
says, "My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, please to charge your
glasses." After we duly charge our glasses the herald cries:
"Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, pray silence for the Lord Mayor." He
then rises and proposes the first toast, which is, of course, always
"The Queen." After a time came the "American Minister," who was
obliged to rise up at my elbow and respond. We got home just after
twelve.
And now let me try to give you some faint idea of Audley End, which
is by far the most magnificent house I have seen yet.
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